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Boston Celtics Gameday HQ

The Pelicans are squarely on the wide shoulders of Davis
to carry the team to its first playoff spot in four seasons.
of that pain of having Tyreke go against small
forwards who are 6-8, 6-9 or even 6-10. That
puts him in a difficult spot and that’s what I was
trying to avoid.”
New Orleans’ starting five of Holiday,
Gordon, Evans, Davis and Asik appears rock
solid. However, Williams could put Evans at
the two, sending Gordon to the bench, a
role he’s already said he would accept. And
if Evans moves to his more natural position,
where he played last year while Gordon was
injured, veteran John Salmons is next man
up at the three.
“That’s a big question mark,” Demps said
of the three spot. “I think we can do it by
committee. I think we have a number of guys
D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images
that can play there. I think competition is
going to be great.”
Depth remains a problem, which makes this
a crucial year with the organization for Austin
Rivers, New Orleans’ top pick (10th overall) in
the 2012 draft who will become a restricted
free agent at the end of the season. Along
with newcomer Jimmer Fredette, Rivers will be
an important backcourt player off the bench.
“I’m excited to see Austin Rivers. He’s
been spending a lot of time in the gym. He’s
been here late at night, early in the morning.
His body looks great,” Demps said. “I think
he’s really going to compete for minutes
off the bench.”
If Rivers and Fredette can provide some
scoring punch in the second
unit, expect the Pelicans to fare
better; otherwise, the team’s lack
of bench scoring to keep them
from making any improvement in
a crowded West field.
OUTLOOK
One thing Demps, Williams and
the entire organization hope for is
fewer injuries. But considering that
Evans suffered a hamstring injury
that was expected to keep him off
the floor for at least a month prior
to preseason, the new season
already took an unfavorable
tone by losing a member of the
starting five so early.
But even with Evans out,
Williams remains optimistic the
Pelicans can stay relatively healthy. “Just
having guys healthy, that to me is like a free
agent signing,” Williams said. “Just having Ryan
Anderson back, having him in the gym and
watching him work out has been pretty cool.”
If New Orleans can stay healthy, then they
could surprise some people and maybe push
for a seven or eight seed in the West. Their thin
bench will continue to be an achilles heel. If
they continue to struggle and miss the playoffs
again, expect talk of a coaching change to
ramp up considerably.
SPOTLIGHT:
Anthony Davis
He might be an obvious choice, but this is shaping up to be a big year for Davis, who comes off a big summer after playing for Team USA,
an experience which could have immense benefits going forward.
The long (in arms and brows) player has already accomplished a lot in his rather short NBA career, but considering how humble and
unassuming the Chicago native is, it’s not hard to see why his teammates, fans in the Big Easy and around the Association are drawn to
this young phenom.
It’s hard not to. After being the prize of the 2012 draft, Davis started out his NBA career as a string-bean forward who had the potential to
be disruptive force on both ends with his combination of length, quickness and work ethic. The hope was that he’d fill out, learn the nuances
of the NBA game and develop some offensive moves. Davis has not disappointed in all three fronts. The defense has been his calling card
and now with his newfound confidence on offense, he’s become the best emerging under-25 player in the NBA.
Demps might have summed up Davis and what he means to the organization in one simple quote from media day. “He has that ability on
and off the court with his personality to lift up an organization. He’s only 21-years-old and the leadership that he brings to us is going to be
really important,” Demps said.
But maybe the most impressive thing about this youngster is that even with all he’s already accomplished in the League, he still has a neverending
hunger and work ethic to always keep improving, not only himself but his team.
And the fact that he added some mass to his rather wiry frame is definitely good news for Williams and his teammates and bad news to
those beating and banging with him in the paint this season. “I gained like 15 pounds. I feel a lot stronger. I just got a little confidence. I definitely
got a lot stronger and I definitely feel it,” he said.